Total pages in book: 189
Estimated words: 181808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 909(@200wpm)___ 727(@250wpm)___ 606(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 181808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 909(@200wpm)___ 727(@250wpm)___ 606(@300wpm)
“You forget the part where he said he’d rather cut both his nuts off than go through that again?”
“I did.” Making a face at him, she snuck a bite of pancake when her mother wasn’t looking. “He was exaggerating.”
Watching her mother out of the corner of her eye, she tried to steal another bite, only to have Moon take her spoon away with a wicked grin.
“Meanie.”
He laughed at her and slid the pancakes across the table to her, taking the oatmeal for himself.
She gave him a grateful smile and she dug into the pancakes before her mother noticed the switch.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Rising from the table, he gave her a mischievous glance. “Of course, you’re going to have to explain how you ended up with the pancakes. I’m out of here.”
“Coward.”
“You ready to throw her ass out the door?”
“Shh … she can hear you. You know I’m not.”
“Then you’re on your own.” With a brief peck on her cheek, he was gone.
She was lifting her fork speared with a generous bite of pancakes, when she looked toward her mother to see she was being observed.
Under her perusal, she ate the bite. She didn’t feel bad enough to stop eating them, but she did feel bad that she had been caught.
“You’re terrible.”
“I’ll eat oatmeal tomorrow,” she promised, carrying the empty plate to the sink. “I couldn’t resist. You could have given the oatmeal to him.”
“It was meant to be a peace offering.”
“Aw, that was sweet. I’m glad you’re liking him better.”
Her mother gave her a sage look as she took a tiny sleeper out of the laundry basket. “He’s a prick.”
Larissa gaped at her mother. “You really have to quit calling him names.”
Her mother gave a sarcastic snort. “I’d love to hear what he calls me when you’re not around. It’s pretty obvious we can’t stand each other.”
“Mom, you promised to behave around him.”
“I am. Didn’t I make the Easy Rider wannabe pancakes?”
“Lord, Mom, make sure you don’t say that to his face.”
“I wouldn’t. No more than I would call him a son of a bitch.”
“Why do you dislike like him so much?”
She could hear her mom’s sigh from across the room.
“That young man sets off my last nerve.”
Larissa’s hand went to her lower back, feeling a nagging pain. “I can tell.” Crossing the room, she sat down on the couch next to her mother and began folding the baby clothes in the basket. “I really want you two to get along.”
“Darling, Moon and I will never get along.”
“Why?” Larissa looked up from the laundry basket to find a morose expression on her mother’s face, as if she was about to say something she didn’t want to say. Warily, she dreaded her mother’s next words.
She loved her mother and knew she only wanted her to be happy. If she really disliked Moon for good reason, she didn’t know if she could keep lying to herself that they had a future.
After a brief pause, her mother’s expression lightened, easing her worry. “Because he’s a prick.”
Bending down, she opened the bottom drawer of the baby’s bureau to set a stack of clothes inside. When she rose, she felt a gush of wetness running down her legs.
“Mom!” she yelled.
A moment later, her mother came running into the baby’s nursery. Mother and daughter just stared at each other.
“My water broke.”
“I see that.” Her mother sounded as if she had swallowed a frog. “Are you in any pain?”
“No!” she wailed.
Her mother frowned. “Then why are you yelling?”
“Because I don’t have the pool set up! None of our equipment is here. Priss—”
“Calm down.” Her mother stepped around the pool of water on the floor to take her arm. “I’ll call Priss while you get changed.”
In her room, she washed off and changed into a gown, managing to gather her composure enough to fight the anxiety over finding herself in labor.
Hearing the front door slam open and Priss calling her name provided yet another level of calm. She would be in good hands with Priss here. She wouldn’t have to depend only on herself to monitor the baby if any difficulties arose.
Her mother had just finished putting padding on the bed when Priss came rushing into the bedroom. Setting her medical bag on the dresser, she gave her a steadying look. “We got this.”
Larissa nodded. “I know.”
“Lana is on her way. Let’s get you in bed so I can check how the baby is doing.” Taking her by the arm, Priss helped her get situated on the bed before moving to her bag.
Larissa raised her gown for Priss, then looked at her mother, catching the fear she didn’t have time to hide.
“Have you timed your contractions?” Priss asked when she returned to her side.
Larissa used a scrunchie to tie up her hair. “I’ve only had a few mild ones. I thought they were Braxton hicks. Mom, did Moon say he was on his way?”